Youngsters bring the heat in final performance at annual Kayenta rodeo

KAYENTA – The final performance of the Kayenta Independence Day Celebration Open Show Rodeo produced some new leaderboards.

Bareback rider Alvaro Begay, tie-down roper Noah Haven and saddle bronc rider Lorenzo Benally forged ahead in their respective events on Friday night as the three young cowboys were first-time winners at the annual Kayenta rodeo.

“This feels pretty good,” Benally said. “I’m just so excited to win Kayenta. I wasn’t expecting to win it, but this feeling is so amazing.”

Benally rode Beer Can Flats, conquering the equine owned by local stock contractor Eugene Barlow of Rock Point, Arizona.

“I was excited that I drew him,” Benally said. “It made me more hyper because he’s a big-time horse. I just gassed it after I made my mark-out and I wanted to make my ride really flashy.”

Afterward the 18 year-old cowboy was stunned that he was able to complete the eight-second ride.

“I was like, holy crap, I covered that horse,” Benally said. “I’ve seen that horse a couple of times and he’s pretty strong. That horse has a lot of lunge, and he’s pretty long, so he’s a horse that I’ve been waiting to ride.”

Benally’s efforts surpassed the 74-point ride turned in by veteran cowboy Robert Burbank, who posted that score the previous night, with Benally winning $466 while Burbank took home $310.

“I’m still in shock that I won this,” Benally said. “Like I said, I wasn’t expecting to win this, but my horse gave me a good out.”

Begay was also surprised by his win as the 18 year-old Názlini, Ariz., cowboy won the bareback event with a 72.5-point ride aboard James Bond.

“That horse was nice,” Begay said. “He let me have it today.”

The two athletes have a history as Friday’s encounter was the pair’s second meeting.

“The first time I rode him, I missed my mark-out on the left side,” Begay said. “It was kind of weird that I drew him again today, but I fixed what needed to be fixed. I got a good mark out and I rode him out.”

Despite being one of the newbies in said event, Begay is becoming more confident with his riding prowess. He is set to join the Navajo Technical University rodeo team later this year as an incoming freshman.

“I probably have about 20 open shows already,” Begay said. “Before that I was riding in the junior events, but there’s a lot more horse power in the open events.

“You know, this was just another horse down,” he added. “I think all horses are going to be ridden no matter what.”

Begay’s score was enough to beat out Cauy Betony’s 71-point ride for first-place as the two cowboys were paid out $291 and $194, respectively.

In the tie-down event, Haven smoked the competition with the 10.15 run he turned in on Friday night. Earlier that day, PRCA team ropers James Arviso and Denton Dunning recorded runs of 10.28 and 10.78, respectively.

“They put the pressure on me,” said Haven, who turned 20 on July 2. “I knew I had to get out pretty clean and be smooth on the ground to have a shot.”

The Fort Defiance cowboy credited his horse, Chief, for his big win as Haven pocketed the first-place prize of $931.

“I’m still seasoning him, but he’s coming along,” Haven said of his horse. “I’m starting to trust him a lot more and we’re starting to click. I’m just thankful that my horse did his job.”

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